Chicago march marks Roe v. Wade decision

January 18, 2009

Nancy Weber gripped the microphone of a bullhorn on this afternoon and, beneath the shadow of Chicago's Water Tower, told how 22 years ago she chose life for her unborn son.

About 100 people took part in the fourth annual "March for Life in Chicago," marking the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision making abortion legal. Similar events across the nation are leading up to Thursday's main march in Washington.

Grace Camacho, 6, of Chicago in front of the crowd at the downtown march. (Tribune / Chuck Berman)

In Chicago on Sunday, participants carried signs and said prayers during a walk from Holy Name Cathedral on State Street to the Water Tower.

That's where Weber, of St. Charles, described how she was 23 years old and unmarried when an unplanned pregnancy forced her choice.

A doctor had given her directions to an abortion clinic, but she also discovered a pro-life pamphlet that helped her decide against an abortion.

"I felt confusion and fear," she said as the marchers began returning to Holy Name. "I thought, what kind of world would it be without children?"

She gave that child up for adoption. Although she has since gotten married and had four more children, a day rarely passes that she does not think about him, Weber said.

"I pray that he's happy and fulfilling God's will," she said.

Her 16-year-old daughter, Dolores Weber, also marched on Sunday.

"A third of my generation is gone," she said, referring to abortions. "I'm happy my mom did what she did."

Sponsored by the Missionaries of the Holy Innocents, speakers during the rally included Pro-Life Action League founder Joseph Scheidler.

"We're going to fight for babies more than ever," Scheidler told the marchers. "We are the soldiers of Jesus Christ. He's with us, and he's pro-life. He just celebrated his birthday. Think what the world would be like if he had a mother who thought he was a burden."